Improvement in steam-pumps



D. DUUDS & l. H. HABTSUFF. Steam-Pumps.

Patented March 3. 1874;

WITNESSES.

AMP/lami/THUGRAPH/t 00.116 X/asnawrs IWOLESSJ UNITED STATES PATENTCFFICE.

DAVID DOUDS AND JOHN H. HARTSUFF, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD THEIR RIGHT TO PERRY DOUDS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,041, dated March 3,1874; application filed July 9, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known .that we, DAVID DOIJDS and JOHNHENRY HARTSUFF, both of Newcastle,

county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Steam-Pumps; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part ofthisspecification, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of our improved pump;Fig. 2 is a section through line mm, Fig. l Fig. 3 is a plan view of thelower portion of the casing with the top removed, showing the positionof the suction and delivery valves; and Fig. 4 is a section through lineM,

'Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

This invention relates to that class of steampumps in which the steam iscaused to act by direct pressure upon the water, and isdirectedalternately upon two chambers, having a common steam and delivery pipecontrolled by tilting valves in such a manner as to direct the steamalternately upon each chamber, one

being filled with water while the other is being emptied.

It is well known that in pumps of this class their successful operationdepends largely on the rapid condensation of steam in eachch'amber'after the water is expelled, toproduce a vacuum sufficient toclose the stean1-valve,

cause the water to rush in, and direct the steam upon the oppositechambers. When the chamber becomes heated, however, condensation becomesmore difficult in proportion to the degree of heat. Hence, in theoperation of pumps of this class much difficulty is experienced and hotwater cannot be pumped. Our invention has for its object to produce apump free from such objections, which shall be rapid and efi'ectual inits operation, simple in construction, and require comparatively littlesteam. To this end our invention consists, first, in connecting anair-chamber or reservoir to the suction-pipe of the pump; second, in theconstruction of the suction-valves; and, third,

in the general construction and arrangement of parts, as I will nowproceed to describe. The upper portion of the pump-casing is composed ofthe tapering chambers A A made in one casting, separated by a partition,A and cauling together at the top, where they open into a wedgeshapedrecess, B, in which a tilting wedge-shaped valve, 0, works, and closesthe entrance to the chambers A A alternately. The lower portion of thecasin g is composed of a base, A, containing the suctionvalves anddischarge-valve, presently to be described. The base A is bolted to theupper portion, so as to be readily detached therefrom to inspect andrepair the interior. At the bottom of the chambers B B in the base A arethe suctionvalves E E resting on inclined seats F, in which are theports G G, communicating with the suction-pipe H. The valves E are heldin place by casings 1, and are provided with lugs J on their outersides, which strike against said casings and prevent the valves fromopening too far, as shown in Fig. 2. The valves E E are provided withrounded lower edges, which rest in correspondingly-shaped seats K, inthe bottom of the casing. L is a reservoir or air-chamber opening intothe space M in the base A, between the suction-valves, and extendingupward somewhat higher than the chambers A A N is a screw-plug in thetop of the reservoir L, provided with a spring valve, 0, openingdownward. P represents the discharge-passage, connected by ports R Rwith the chambers A A said ports opening into the wedge-shaped seat ofthe rackingvalve S, and being closed in turn by the latter.

The operation is as follows: To start the pump it is necessary to removethe screw-plug N from the reservoir L, and fill the latter, to-

gether with the chambers A A with water, the valves E E permitting itsfree ingress, and a suitable check-valve in the suction-pipe preventingit from escaping. The chambers A A being thus filled, and the valve 0beingtilted so as to cover the opening in the chamber A, steam isadmitted into the chamber A, as shown by the arrow, and, pressingpowerfully on the water contained therein, instantly expels it throughport B into the discharge-pipe P, the valve S being in the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 4, and closing the port R The expulsion of thewater from the chamber A is so sudden that a momentary vacuum isproduced in the chamber A, which causes the valve 0 to tilt in theopposite direction and direct the steam into chamber A while water,

- chamber A is exhausted another momentary vacuum is produced, and thevalve 0 again shifted and steam redirected into the chamber A. Theaction of the pump is therefore constant, and cannot be affected by thetemperature of the chambers, as condensation of steam is not relied onto produce a vacuum, the rapid discharge from the chamber producing thedesired result. The air-chamber L, connecting with the mouth of thesuction-pipe, enables the pump to discharge a steady steam, and the aircook or valve 0 relieves the action of the suction-valves and preventsthem from knocking too hard against their casings. The sectionalconstruction of the pump-casin g enables it to be readily taken apartfor repairs; and it will be readily seen that, as the suction anddischarge valves are all contained in the base A they can be inspectedand repaired by simply removing the upper portion of the casin g.

We have found by practical operation of this pump that it will throwthree feet for every pound of steam-pressure, and its operation is sorapid that one hundred and twenty (120) strokes per minute have beenreached. We can operate with either hot or cold water, therebyconclusively proving that no condensation of steam isnecessary to theoperation of our pump. Indeed, condensation is impossible in pumping hotwater. We can therefore use it successfully in feeding boilers, and forother purposes where hot water is desired. The construction is soextremely simple that particles of sand, gravel, and other obstructionscan pass readily through it without injury to the working parts. This wehave also found by experience. The seats of the valves E E are chilledincasting to prevent them from being cut or worn by gravel and otherforeign matter passing through.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is-- v 1. Thecombination of the air-chamber L, having the screw-plug N andspring-valve O, with the suction-space M and chambers A A of asteam-pump, substantially as described.

2. The suction-valves E E provided with the back lugs J and the roundedlower edges resting in sockets K, in combination with the casings I andinclined seats F, substantially as described.

DAVID DOUDS. JOHN HENRY HARTSUFF.

Witnesses:

D. K. HAUXHURST, MELVILLE CHURCH.

